CHAR-KOOSTA
PUBLISHED BY CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, FLATHEAD AGENCY, MONT. Vol. 3 — No. 8 July, 1959
On August 25 a great national figure left his "happy campng ground" and went to his "happy roaming ground." "Big Medicine", the white buffalo, died at the age of 26 years and four months.
This animal had been a target for cameras, by tourist and by our loca local people for many years.
Many times comments have been made that since our Reservation has its own Tribal hunting and fishing laws that we are not conservationists. Today we members on the Tribal Council have the same feeling about our present-day Indian. Let us look back to the early 1880's and look at the foundation of this herd. It was Sam Walking Coyote, a Flathead or a Pend d' Oreille Indian who brought the first buffalo to this reservation from east of the mountains and wintered them at St. Ignatius. Even though Sam Walking Coyote was a full blood, uneducated, preservation of the natural Buffalo was in his mind.
It was in 1883 that Michel Pablo, part Spanish and part Blackfoot, with a great knowledge of business dealings learned from a Scottish trader, purchased the few head of buffalo from Sam Walking Coyote and took in Charles Allard as a partner. At the time of Charles Allard's death in 1896 the herd had grown to almost 300 head.
By 1906 Michel Pablo had decided to sell his buffalo as he had built up his share and Pablo had a feeling Congress should do something in the way of conservation of wild life and purchase the buffalo. At that time Congress was not interested so Pablo sold the herd to (he Canadian government at about $250 a piece and proceedings were started to round up the animals to take them from (heir country. It took a couple of years before Pablo got the buffalo delivered. However, his enthusiasm paved the way
for more interest and pressure to preserve some of the buffalo that could no* be captured. Efforts were being made to set aside a large pasture for the remaining buffalo by the National Bison Society. The results are there is located on this reservation the 18,000 acre National Bison Range. Even though Big Medicine" went to the "happy roaming ground" his heritage on this reservation stems many years back and the white man in Congress of that day realized the Indian also knew what conservation means.
U.S.P.H.S. Conducting Survey of Health Needs in Tribe
The Public Health Service is mailing questionnaire to the enrolled members of our Reservation. They are asking for social and financial information that will help determine who should be given first consideration for medical care by the Public Health Service.
It is absolutely necessary that these questionnaires be filled out as soon as possible A self-addressed envelope that requires no postage will be enclosed for the purpose of mailing the questionnaire to Dixon. If you prefer, the completed questionnaire can be taken by you to the Public Health Service office at the Agency. Enrolled members of other Reservations living on the Flathead and not a dependent of an enrolled Flathead member should get a questionnaire from the Public Health Service office at Dixon and fill it out.
When the questionnaires are mailed out the Public Health Service will not be able to authorize any medical care until they have been completed
Matt Is Instructor At Chemawa
Indian School
By W. W. McDonald
Out west near the Pacific Coast where the old Indian school of Chemawa is situated, a new totem pole has been erected. History speaks for itself as this old school has been the basis of careers of many Indian students of the northwestern part of the United States. Many students went on to higher education while others have gone on to successful lives in other fields. Today Chemawa has an all Navajo enrollment. Although it is rather a blow to give up the school to the Navajos because of its history, we are glad to do it for that tribe of underprivileged Indians.
We still have a talented Flathead member at Chemawa. He is Vincent J. Matt, formerly of Arlee, Montana. Vincent is an instructor in shopwork as well as band teacher. Above is a picture of the newly erected totem pole, one of the master pieces of Mr. Matt. In order to do the very technical carving of parts of the bird special tools were made by Mr. Matt. The bird on the totem pole has a significanse as do emblems of various tribes.
Vincent was graduated from Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kansas in 1929. During those school days he proved his ability in cabinet making, art work and music. ,
by you and received in the office at Dixon.
This is a good program so let's cooperate 100 per cent and get the questionnaires to the Health Service office at Dixon.